Umbrella

ABSTRACT

A retractable umbrella having a central tubular storage handle into which a top cover and multiple stays slide or telescope when retracted for storage, and from which the cover and stays are propelled axially to open in an outwardly expanding direction to provide a top cover adapted to be carried by means of the central tubular handle.

United States Patent 1191 111 3,709,238 Leopo'ldi et al. [4 1 Jan. 9,1973 s41 UMBRELLA [56] References Cited NT [76] Inventors: NorbertLeopoldi, 4180 Marine UNITED STATES FATE S 3,534,752 10/1970 Vanzini.135 20 R Drive, Chicago, ill. 60613; Kenneth C. Riilin, Sr., 28Hillside Avenue, Grayslake, lll. 60030 Filed: March 26, 1971 Appl. No.:128,307

Field of Search ..l35/20, 25, 19

Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell Attorney-Mann, Brown, McWilliarns &Bradway [57] ABSTRACT A retractable umbrella having a central tubularstorage handle into which a top cover and multiple stays slide ortelescope when retracted for storage, and from which the cover and staysare propelled axially to open in an outwardly expanding direction toprovide a top cover adapted to be carried by means of the centraltubular handle,

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures FF ZS l 1 -FATENTEDJM 9 I975 SHEET 2 [IF 3INVENTORS NORBERT LEOPOLDI S R .Y N w I A m0 R A mm M W m K UMBRELLABACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore, umbrellas have been of a complexfolding type to obtain compactness, or involved a full. lengthcentral'stem with the top and supporting stays retractable directlyther'eabout, and in either case the top was secured centrally to thestern, as were the supporting-stays by pivotal connections, and thestays were braced intermediate their length by means of strut membersconnected at their opposite ends to a sliding ring on the central stemwhich moved lengthwise of the stern in opening and closing the umbrella.Thus, with an assembly of this type, it was necessary frequently tooperate the mechanism under the most difficultconditions, such as whenentering or leaving a door to a building or a car, whereupon it becomesnecessary to pull the umbrella closed or push it open in directlyopposed movements in respect to a persons handling of the door, and, ifthere is a wind, the conditions are further complicated. The presentinvention, however, overcomes such difficulties by a very simpleumbrella design wherein the opening and closing movements are directlyaxially-of a hollow central cylinder which, in the retracted position ofthe umbrella, contains the entire assembly comprised of the top cover,supporting stays, tension chords for the stays and sliding members inthe tube. The operation of the umbrella presents no difficulty uponentering or leaving a doorway because of the manner in which themechanism moves axially of the supporting tube; In closing, the topcover, supporting stays, and tension chords are drawn into the centraltube in a sliding or telescoping action which has the effect ofretracting these parts inwardly without interfering with any surroundingobstacle. The opening operation involves movement of the retractedassembly axially of the tube, whereupon the top cover and supportingstays expand outwardly, controlled-by the tension chords, so that,again, interference with any surrounding obstacles may be avoided. I

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the invention is toprovide a compact umbrella design wherein the top cover is stored in thehandle.

Anotherobject of the invention is the provision of a tubular strut orhandle adapted to contain a folded top cover of an umbrella. 1

Still another. object of the invention is to provide a tubular umbrellahandle containing the folded cover and supporting stays which expandoutwardly when the assembly is moved axially of the tubular handle.

A further object of the invention involves the provision of an umbrellacomprised of a central tube and a folding top cover having supportingstays with tension chord members controlling the open position of thetop and stays.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tubularumbrella handle adapted to contain a folded top cover, the supportingstays therefor, and tension chord members for the stays, and wherein theseveral parts are slidable axially into the handle to close the umbrellaand propelled axially outwardly of the handle to open.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other and more specificobjects of the invention are attained by the umbrella structure andarrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: 1

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of the umbrella of this inventionshown fully open;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the umbrella fully retracted within thetubular handle showing the compactness of the design; 7

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the umbrella assembly in thefully retracted position showing how all of the parts are contained inthe central tubular handle; a

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the um I brella assemblyshowing the position of the parts in an intermediate step duringmovement to open the umbrella;

FIG. 5 also is a vertical sectional view through the umbrella assemblyshowing the umbrella fully open with the top cover extended andsupported by the flexible stays under control of the tension chords;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the inventionshowing the assembly fully retracted within the tubular handle; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the modified version of theinvention indicating the several parts of the assemblyin variouspositions during operation to full open position. v

' SUMMARY OF INVENTION The umbrella of this invention comprises a hollowcylinder or central tubular member which serves as the handle for theumbrella and as a storage chamber for the assembly of the partscomprised of the top cover, a

plurality of flexible stays for supporting the cover in open position, asimilar number of tension chords which control and brace the supportingstays, and slid-'- ing operating members in the tube, to which theseparts are connected, and by means of which they are operated in openingand closing the umbrella. In the closed position, the entire umbrellaassembly is enclosed within the tubular handle to provide a very compactsimple design, and which is easily opened by merely sliding the partsaxially of the tube, whereupon the top cover and its assembled stays andtension chords expand outwardly to provide a strong, fully effectivecover against the elements, and which is not affected by wind in that itcannot be turned inside out or damaged by gusts that would destroy theusual umbrella structure.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT retracted position adjacent theclosed end 11 of the tube and an extended position projecting throughthe open end of the tube, as best shown in FIG. 5. The sliding member isprovided with an annular'shoulder 13 projecting outwardlynear the lowerportion of the member and which prevents complete escape of the slidingmember through the open end of the tube, as will hereinafter appear. Thesliding member 13 is operated by an actuating member 14 or control ringwhich is mounted on the exterior face of the cylinder 10. This actuatingmember is made rigid with the sliding memberby means of a connection 15which extends through the wall of the cylinder 10. This connection 15may be disposed at diagonally opposite sides of the cylinder and controlring and extends through an opening in the cylinder wall or, as shown,by means of slots'16. These slots 16 are each provided with a lateraloffset 17 at the bottom end and an offset 18 at the top end. It willreadily be seen that when the sliding member is inthe retracted positionadjacent the bottorn or closed end 1 1 of the tube 10, it can be lockedin this positionmerely by rotating the sliding member by means of thecontrol ring 14, whereupon the connection members 15 are moved into thebottom lateral offsets 17 securely to hold the member 13 in retractedposition... Similarly, when the sliding member 13 is moved to theextended position projecting through the open end '12 of the cylinder10, it can be locked in this position 'by turning the control ring 14 torotate the member 13 and thereby move the connections 15 into the toplateral ofisets 18, whereby securely to hold the sliding member in thisposition against any possibility of dislodgment until it is desired torelease it by turning the control ring 14 in a reverse direction when itis intended to retrac't'the sliding member.

The .umbrella includes a top cover 19 which may be comprised of fabricor, where desired or preferred, could be made from a suitable plasticmaterial. Radially extending flexible stays 21 support the top covermaterial iniits expanded open position and, as disclosed in thisembodiment, these stays comprise an integral assembly including acentral portion 20 from which the ribs 2l'radiate to the outer edge ofthe umbrella. The top cover at itscenter and the central portion 20 ofthe stay assembly secured to theo'uter end of the sliding member. 13 bya fastening 22. A plurality of radially extending tension chord members24 extend between the upper or open end -12 of the tube 10 and anintermediate position on each radial stay member 21 where each chordmember is slidirigly engaged. This connection maybe by means, of asliding interlock 27, as shown, or the connection may .obtain relativemovement by other means. The tension chord members may also compriseanintegral assembly, in which event the radially extending chord members24 radiate from a central collar 23 outwardly to the sliding connection27 where they engage the ribs 21. The collar 23 fits in the open outerend 12 of the tube 10 and is provided with the shoulders 12', 23' and 13prevent the sliding member from traveling beyond the point where thefastening members 22 may be rotated into the lateral offsets 18extending from the slots 16 in the cylinder wall when the umbrella isopened.

The stays 21 are hingedly associated with the central portion 20 and, asshown, this may comprise an integral hinge 25 or, if desired, may beformed of pivotally connected separate members. The tension chordmembers 24 similarly are disclosed as having integral hinge connections26 with the central collar member 23, but here again the hinges may becomprised of separate memthe latter, after being rotated slightly torelease connection 19 from the top lateral offset 18, is retracted fromits extended position projecting above the open end 12 of tube 10 to itsfully retracted-position adjacent the bottom or closed end 11 of thetube where it is rotated slightly to lock in this position by moving theconnection member 15 into the bottom lateral offset 17.

DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a modifiedversion of the umbrella of this invention is disclosed, and it will beseen that the basic concept of the central tubular handle and inwardlyfolding top assembly is retained and including the flexible stayshingedly connected to the axially sliding member in the tube, so thatthe entire top can be slid into the tubularhandle, as before, but theprimary difference in this version of the invention resides in the typeand arrangement of the tensionchords. In this arrangement, the centraltubular member 210 comprises the umbrella handle and storage chamber forthe folded top assembly. A sliding member 213 moves between retractedposition adjacent the bottom closed end 211 and the open position of theumbrella at the top open end 212 of the tube. In this design, thesliding member 213 is disposed more or less flush with the open end 212of the central tube, and is capable of being locked in open and closedpositions,

- as before, by means of lateral offsets 218 and 217 from the axialslots 216 when the sliding member is rotated slightly at the respectivepositions by means of the outer control ring 214 which actuates themember 213 by means of connections 215 which enter the offset slotportions to complete the locking action. The top cover 219 is supportedby flexible stays 221 hingedly connected to the member 213 at the centerand their free ends connected to the cover 219, as at 228. The foldingoperation of this top arrangement and its movement into the central tube210 is similar to that of the previously described arrangement.

In the modified construction, the tension chords 224 are securedexteriorly of the central tube 210 at their:

edge of the open end 212 of the central tube and down into the tube asthe stays and folded top cover slide downwardly into the tube forstorage. The tension chords 224, as shown in this arrangement, maycomprise fine wire or cord, or they may be made from a filamentfabricated from a suitable plastic. These tension members 224 areconnected at their outer ends to the respective stays 221 intermediatethe length of the stay, and at their inner ends they are connected to ananchor collar 2 23 mounted on the outer surface of the central tube 210.This anchor member is fixed and, when the umbrella is closed, the cords224 extend upwardly from their connection to the anchor 223, over thetop edge of the open end 212 of the central tube and down into the tube210 to the point where they connect with the respective stays'221. Fromthe illustration of this arrangement in the closed position, as shown inFIG. 6, it

becomes apparent that this modified version retains the compactnessinherent in the inventive design.

From the foregoing, the invention will be recognized as an umbrellawhich may be folded inwardly and concealed in a central tube whichcomprises the handle for the umbrella as well as the storage chamber forthe folded top assembly.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as sure piece of said sliding member, aplurality of flexible stays centrally connected to said end closurepiece of the sliding member and extending radially outward therefrom,said stays comprising an integral one-piece assembly fastened at thecenter to the sliding member and hinged adjacent each radial outwardlyportion, a tension chord connected at one end intermediate the length ofeach stay and at its opposite end int'erengaged with said cylinder, saidtension chords comprising an integral one-piece assembly interengagedwith said cylinder at the center and each radial outwardly extendingportion is slidingly interlocked with a stay intermediate the lengththereof, said integral one-piece tension chord assembly having a centralcollar surrounding said sliding member, an annular outer shoulder onsaid collar seated on said annular shoulder on the sliding member in oneposition thereof and engaged under said inwardly directed annularshoulder on the outer end of said hollow cylinder whereby the slidingmember and the tension chord assembly are prevented from travellingbeyond the end of the hollow cylinder, and an actuating member,actuating said sliding member.

2. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 wherein said top cover, flexiblestays and said tension chords are drawn into said hollow cylinder bymovement of the sliding member to retracted position in the cylinder andare propelled out of the cylinder by movement of the sliding member toits projecting position whereby the top cover is expanded outwardly bysaid stays under corm'ol of said tension chords.

3. An umbrella as set forth in claim 2 wherein said flexible stays,tension chords, sliding member, and said hollow cylinder are fabricatedfrom suitable plastic materials. v

4; An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tension chords attheir inner ends engaged with the cylinder are secured externally of thecylinder, and when the top cover and stays are drawn into the cylinderextend over the outer end of the cylinder from their points ofsecurement and into the cylinder.

1. An umbrella comprised of a hollow cylinder having an open outer end formed with an inwardly directed annular shoulder, a sliding member in the cylinder comprising a hollow tubular member having a closure piece forming the outer end thereof and a laterally projecting annular shoulder adjacent the inner end thereof, a top cover centrally secured to the end closure piece of said sliding member, a plurality of flexible stays centrally connected to said end closure piece of the sliding member and extending radially outward therefrom, said stays comprising an integral one-piece assembly fastened at the center to the sliding member and hinged adjacent each radial outwardly portion, a tension chord connected at one end intermediate the length of each stay and at its opposite end interengaged with said cylinder, said tension chords comprising an integral one-piece assembly interengaged with said cylinder at the center and each radial outwardly extending portion is slidingly interlocked with a stay intermediate the length thereof, said integral one-piece tension chord assembly having a central collar surrounding said sliding member, an annular outer shoulder on said collar seated on said annular shoulder on the sliding member in one position thereof and engaged under said inwardly directed annular shoulder on the outer end of said hollow cylinder whereby the sliding member and the tension chord assembly are prevented from travelling beyond the end of the hollow cylinder, and an actuating member, actuating said sliding member.
 2. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 wherein said top cover, flexible stays and said tension chords are drawn into said hollow cylinder by movement of the sliding member to retracted position in the cylinder and are propelled out of the cylinder by movement of the sliding member to its projecting position whereby the top cover is expanded outwardly by said stays under control of said tension chords.
 3. An umbrella as set forth in claim 2 wherein said flexible stays, tension chords, sliding member, and said hollow cylinder are fabricated from suitable plastic materials.
 4. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tension chords at their inner ends engaged with the cylinder are secured externally of the cylinder, and when the top cover and stays are drawn into the cylinder extend over the outer end of the cylinder from their points of securement and into the cylinder. 